Meter-box cover.



J. P. RYDER.

METER BOX COVER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1911.

1,015,907. Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

JAMES PATRICK RYDER, F CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE.

METER-BOX COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30,1912.

Application filed June 2,1911. Serial No. 630,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES P. RYDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clarksville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meter-Box Covers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in meter boxes, and has for its leading object the provision of an improved cover for 4 meter boxes which will be practically water tight and which may be quickly and easily locked in position on the meter box and may be removed with equal facility by persons possessed of the proper key.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an improved simple and. efficient cover for meter boxes which may be readily locked in position and which will be provided with an improved integrally formed depending guard which will serve to protect the locking device carried by the cover both when the cover is being unlocked and when the cover is removed and placed on the ground.

Other objects and advantages of my improved meter box top will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific structure shown and described within the scope of my claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of my invention.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my meterbox and cover therefor. Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view with the cover locked in position thereon. Fig. 3 represents a sectionalview showing the cover in position but with the key inserted to unlock and remove the cover. Fig. 4: represents a bottom plan view of the cover. Fig. 5 represents a cross sectional-view thereof, and Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of the plug. I

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the meter box proper having the flange 2 at its upper edge providing the flaring recess 3 into which fits the beveled edge 4 of my cover section 5. Said cover section 5 has formed centrally therein the elongated inwardly flaring slot or aperture 6 surrounded on its under side by the collar flange 7 while depending from the cover is the U- shaped guard member 8 having its arms disposed on opposite sides of the ends of the slot 6, as will be readily understood.

Depending from the box cover 5 near the edges thereof and disposed parallel to the guard 8 are the ears or lugs 9 having the transverse slots 10 formed therein, while passing between the arms of the guard member and extending outward through the slots 10 of the lugs 9 is the heavy blade or leaf spring member 11, the ends of said member being so positioned as to normally fit against the box 1 below the inwardly extending flange portion 12 thereof, whereby the spring serves to lock the meter box cover in closed position to prevent lifting off thereof.

To form a closure for the slot 6 and prevent entrance of an excessive amount of dirt or water through the said slot, I secure centrally on the spring 11 the upwardly tapering plug 13 formed of lead or similar material, said plug having depending ears 14: which are adapted to be bent around the spring to secure the plug in position.

WVhen it is desired to remove my meter box cover, it is merely necessary to insert the elongated head 15 of the key 16 into the slot 6 and press downward on the cross handle 17 of said key, the head 15 pushing the plug downward until its ears 14 rest on the cross bar 18 of the guard member 8. When the plug is in this position, the ends. of the spring 11 will be out ofengagement with the flange 12, and I then give the key a quarter revolution to cause the head 15 to lie with its long diameter at, right angles to the longer diameter of the slot 6, the head thus engaging the under side of the cover and the handle 17 of the key forming. a lifting handle for the box cover.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction of my improved meter box cover will be readily understood, and it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient cover of this character which may be manufactured at but slight expense and in which the depending guard 8 will serve both to limit the downward movement of the central portion of the spring and thus prevent its ends from being forced out of will both serve to lock the box in closed-p0 sition and to force the plug upward to close the slot 6 and thus prevent entrance of dirt through the key-hole slot of the cover.

I claim:

1. The combination with a meter box having an inwardly extendingflange at its upper edge, of a cover for the box resting on said flange, said cover having a pair oi depending guide lugs formed thereon, the lugs being formed with alined slots, a spring member engaged in the slots of the lugs and normally engaging the under face of the flange of the meter box to lock the cover in position, said cover having a central elongated slot formed therein and a guard member of U-shape depending below the slot, and a plug secured centrally on the spring and normally closing the slot in the cover, the guard member serving to limit the downward forcing of the central portion of the spring.

2. A meter box cover, comprising a cover plate formed with depending guides near the edges, a spring extending transversely of the under side of the plate and having 2 its ends engaged in the guides, a central depending guide for limiting the downward movement of the central portion of the spring, the cover plate having a slot formed therein, and a plug secured on the spring 3 and normally closing the slot.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES PATRICK RYDER. 

